| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Date of Issue | January 28, 2026 |
| Year | 2026 |
| Quantity | 260,000 |
| Denomination |
 PERMANENT™ (P).Current monetary value: $1.24. |
| Series | Hip-Hop in Canada - Black History Month 2026 |
| Series Time Span | 2026 - 2026 |
| Postal Administration | Canada |
| Condition | Name | Avg Value | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Prices for stamp | |||
With his 1989 debut album Symphony in Effect, Maestro Fresh Wes (b. Wesley Williams, 1968) became the first Canadian MC to break into the mainstream. The album’s monster hit single “Let Your Backbone Slide” was the first Canadian rap song to go gold, while the album itself went platinum. In 1991, the JUNO Awards introduced a new category, Best Rap Recording – Symphony in Effect took the win. Over his career, Maestro released nine studio albums and became an author, actor and motivational speaker. In 2024, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.
Canada Post unveiled a new Black History Month stamp set celebrating the vibrant roots of hip-hop in Canada. The stamps pay tribute to three of the country’s most dynamic hip-hop trailblazers – Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee and Muzion. Each of the artists is recognized for helping to shape the genre in Canada, while infusing the music with a uniquely Canadian sound.
This stamp set is a shout-out to the vibrant roots of hip-hop in Canada. The titles are crafted using varied type sizes, echoing the rhythmic nature of hip-hop’s sound. Printed with fluorescent inks that glow under black light, metallic silver and black duotone portraits, and layered matte and gloss varnishes, these stamps evoke the bold, nostalgic aesthetic of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The stamps were designed by Noël Nanton and Nadia Molinari of typotherapy. Various photographs were used in this set: Maestro Fresh Wes – Wellington Williams; background – Edward James Rissling. Michie Mee – Getty Images; background – Rick McGinnis. Muzion – Brigitte Henry; background – Marie-Michèle Bouchard.
The issue, which was printed by Lowe-Martin, includes six Permanent™ stamps and three Official First Day Covers. The cancel sites are Toronto for Maestro Fresh Wes and Michie Mee, and Montréal for Muzion.